Ball pitched the idea in December, explaining his goal of creating a professional league for talented high school players that would pay up to $10,000, giving young athletes the option of forgoing an abridged stay in college and immediately start playing professionally.

It was a bold idea, and many wondered how Ball believed he could pull it off. On Friday the fledgling idea hit its first big roadblock.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Big Baller Brand reached out to two high school recruits – Jalen Carey and Tyler Herro – inviting them both to play in the inaugural year of the JBA. Both players declined, and remain commits to to Syracuse and Kentucky, respectively.

Even more embarrassing, BBB appears to have also reached out to Boston College commit Jairus Hamilton through Twitter direct message. In the message inviting Hamilton to join the league, his first name was spelled incorrectly.

Big Baller Brand has contacted Boston College Commit Jairus Hamilton about joining their new basketball league, the JBA. Hamilton told me he will NOT consider the offer. pic.twitter.com/eEvK64lP24